The Uae Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and its subsidiaries yesterday celebrated the 10th anniversary of the start of construction of the Bakara Nuclear Power Plant unit 1 in the Al Dhafra area of ABU Dhabi.
As governments around the world are focused on how to solve the double challenges of energy security and climate change, the united Arab emirates (uae) long-term energy strategy and began more than a decade ago a lot of investment for nuclear and other clean energy is bring bonuses, promoting China's national climate change work, by obtaining certificate of clean energy for the enterprise to provide the power, the local company has a unique competitive advantage, It also drives research and development and innovation.
The contract to develop baraka was awarded in December 2009 and construction began three years later in 2012.
The first concrete pouring took place at the Baraka nuclear power plant on July 18, 2012.
In May 2017, the construction of the Baraka nuclear power Plant was completed.
In April 2021, the Uae's Baraka Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 began commercial operation. With clean, abundant electricity, it will power homes, businesses and high-tech industries in the UAE, rapidly accelerating the decarbonization of the country's power sector as the UAE moves towards net zero emissions by 2050.
ENEC Managing Director and CEO said the project will provide a quarter of the UAE's electricity needs over the next few years, achieving zero carbon emissions and providing energy security for the UAE while advancing the UAE's net zero goals.
The Bakara plant is just the beginning and the UAE is looking at what it can achieve in the next decade in a range of advanced nuclear technologies and clean fuels such as clean hydrogen, the development of a regional supergrid, SMRs and the wider application of nuclear power.
Both units 1 and 2 of the Baraka nuclear power plant are in commercial operation, and unit 3 will be added in the coming months. When it starts operating at full power, it will add another 1,400 megawatts of zero-carbon electricity to the national grid. Unit 4 is in the final phase of commissioning before completion of construction.
The Baraka nuclear power plant is the only operating multi-unit nuclear power plant in the Arab world. As a powerhouse of the country's sustainable development, the plant has created thousands of high-value jobs and stimulated the development of local industries. Baraka, through rapid decarbonization of the energy sector, provides the country with huge environmental benefits today and for the next 60 years and beyond, providing an abundant source of safe, clean and reliable 24/7 electricity. It is already the largest source of clean electricity in the region, and when fully operational, the plant will prevent 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions per year.
Over the past 10 years, ENEC has been committed to upholding its nuclear policy commitments in the UAE in order to achieve the highest standards of nuclear safety, quality, transparency and non-proliferation. As a result, the Baraka nuclear plant has gained international recognition after a robust assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), a commitment that will continue throughout the UAE's peaceful nuclear energy programme.